Notre Dame Faces Wisconsin in Season Opener

The fourth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to begin their 2026 college football season Sunday night against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast on NBC, with streaming options available on Peacock, FuboTV, and DirecTV Stream. Notre Dame enters the season with aspirations of reaching the College Football Playoff after being notably excluded last year despite finishing with a 10-2 record. The team declined a bowl bid following the playoff snub and has since focused on a mantra of "Leave no doubt" for the upcoming season. Under coach Marcus Freeman, the Fighting Irish are considered a national title contender, boasting a deep and talented roster that some observers suggest is the program's strongest since 1988. Key additions include transfer wide receivers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham, and running backs Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr., who are expected to play significant roles alongside quarterback C.J. Carr. Carr, who threw for nearly 2,800 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, has garnered preseason Heisman Trophy attention.